THE EXCELLENT WAY

Once upon a time, we were all awed by the very basics of shpiritual things – tongues speaking [ooouuuuu 👻], prophecy, dreams and visions. I meaaannn those were the manifestations of solid shpirituaaal maturity and relationship.

And then we stayed just a little longer in the faith and realized daarrnn! These things weren’t even close to the main point! Let me explain.

The gifts of the Spirit according to 1 Corinthians 12 are – word of wisdom, word of knowledge, the gift of faith, healing, working of miracles, prophecy, discerning of gifts, divers tongues and interpretation of tongues. Now the fruit of the Spirit – love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance – Galatians 5:22 & 23. Here’s the point:

Gifts are given freely. Fruits take long periods of consciousness and hard work!

The Spirit of God gives these gifts, and even where a person wants a particular gift, all Scripture says is to desire it earnestly. [1 Corinthians 14:1] When it talks about the fruit of the Spirit, it talks about workings – both of the flesh and of the spirit [i.e. fruit]. If you had to labour for that necklace you received, or for that shoe you’re rocking, it could not possibly be called a gift. Jesus said a workman is worthy of his labour [Luke 10:7]. That’s no gift! But a fruit!! Whew! 😅 Needs clearing, digging, planting, watering, catering, amd sweat!…well unless you want to bear plums 🤮 In the human planting process, that translates into hours in the presence of the Lord, allowing the Word and the presence of God to expose how really wicked your heart is, allowing Him to remove the crappy brainwashes that the world has exercised on you, allowing Him to change your personal biases that are contrary to His word, etc.

Hold up though 🤚🏽 I am in no way saying that these things are not relevant in growing in a gift or in operating at different levels in a gift, nor that gifts are irrelevant! The Church badly needs these gifts. My point is that the gifts in themselves are no indication of spirituality or maturity.

So right after Paul explains the powerful gifts of the Spirit in 1 Corinthians 12, he is quick to add in verse 31,

“Earnestly desire the best gifts and graces: but now I will show you a more excellent way.

And it was after this that he plunged into the 1 Corinthians 13 chapter of love. The Spirit of God, who Himself gave those wonderful gifts above, says through Paul that there is a more excellent way and that way is love!

The more spiritual or mature you are, the more loving you are. Here’s more proof:

‘Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly – mere infants in Christ. You are still unspiritual, for as long there is still jealousy and quarelling and factions among you, are you not unspiritual and of the flesh, behaving yourselves after a human standard and like mere [unchanged] men? 1 Corinthians 3:1&3 [AMP]

Then James 3:13 and 15 [NLT] adds:

If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honourable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom. For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual and demonic!

Yooooo! I’d never read this verse in NLT till now! You could be prophesying and still be very demonic! Or blowing all the tongues in the world and still be demonic with your attitude! Merzey! 🙆‍♀

God is so many powerful things, but the one attribute He constantly attributes to Himself is love. How do you spend time with God and treat people anyhow? Adun gettit!

If you saw people through God’s eyes, you’d realize that every human being is a piece of God Himself walking the face of the earth

If I still haven’t made it abundantly clear enough, lemme try one last time. In the Matthew 25:31 -46 narration of people being categorized into goats and sheep, there were those who ended up in everlasting fire because they did not feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, visit the sick nor prisoners. The Lord Jesus said He took personal offence to how people treated other people because:

“Whatsoever you do to the least of my brothers, that you do unto me.”

The giftings, the ministry, the callings, the power…they’re all because of people, not so you can put up a show! God is all about people! Everything He’s ever required of us has been not only for our own sake, but for the sake of his next creation – including unbelievers!

So now HOW do we build character? Paul always:

1. admonished those he wrote to, to either love, or continue to love. Consciously.
   Be intentional – resolve to be kind, resolve not to be bitter, resolve not to nag, resolve to remember that God actually loves that soul you’re being nasty to, be intentional in controlling your tongue, be intentional about how you make other people feel. Eventually these things will come easier to you. – Hebrews 13:1, Galatians 5:14
   
   
2. He also prayed for them and reminded to pray that they may increase and abound in love towards one another and towards all men – Philippians 1:9

Three things remain – Faith, Hope and Love, but the greatest of these Love!

★  RAD ★